On and on, the Yellow Brick Road stretched and still there was no sign of Central. Winry was quickly getting fed up with this cross country trek, while Ed and Al were talking about something with each other in low whispers. She knew they were talking about whatever Ed's dreams were about. Even here, in this strange world, they were keeping secrets from her…

This thought was driven quickly out of her mind when a low grumbling sound filled the air. She looked over at Ed who was blushing.

"I guess I'm hungry." He said sheepishly.

Winry smiled and said, "Alright then, let's find something to eat."

"Don't worry, there's a Pail Tree a little ways off the Yellow Brick Road." Al said, pointing.

"What's a Pail Tree?" Winry asked.

"That's right; you're not from this world." Ed said. "I keep forgetting. Well, a Pail Tree is just like a fruit tree, but instead of fruit growing on it, there are lunch pails."

"Everything is so different here…" Winry whispered to herself. "I just want to go home…"

Ed and Al had already started heading toward the tree, so she ran to catch up with them. As the trio harvested lunch from the Pail Tree, Lust was panting heavily, watching them. She had been struck by lightning during the storm and was badly hurt. Her wings were torn, her paw-like hands were bent and broken, and her dress was badly torn, showing deep red gashes on her skin. She was surprised to see Winry alive. Dante had been in a specific fury when she created that storm. Most people would've been reduced to ashes. But this girl was not only alive, but unharmed! Lust was fed up with Dante's tyranny. Dante had created her and the others, but what existence was worth having if you were a slave? Perhaps these three travelers would accept her. They were going to see the Fuhrer after all. Maybe he could help her as well…

Lust made up her mind and started climbing down the branches, wincing at the constant pain. When she was a few feet from the ground, she collapsed and fell in a heap next to the travelers. They all jumped up in surprise. Her eyes were quickly losing focus. The last thing she saw before fainting was the boy with the ponytail approaching her.

Ed carefully approached the apparently unconscious creature and bent over her. He turned her on her back and Winry gasped as she saw the gashes, the shape of her wings, and the twisted torture of her paws. Ed stood up and turned to the other two, a grim look on his face.

"This is one of Dante's Seven Winged Sins!" he said.

"What's she doing here I wonder?" Al asked.

"She's probably here to try and get the Blood Red Slippers from me." Winry said.

"So that's what those are!" Al said. "I thought they looked familiar!"

"You know about these shoes?" she asked.

"Not much. They're pretty mysterious. They say that Dante gave them to Etnad as a gift when they started ruling the East and West." Al explained.

"But why does she want them so badly?" Winry said.

"I have no idea." Al replied.

Winry looked over at Ed and was shocked to see he was holding a knife in his hand, getting ready to slit the Sin's throat!

"Stop! What are you doing?" Winry said, running over to Ed.

"What does it look like? I'm going to kill this thing before it wakes up!"

"But you can't! She hasn't done anything to hurt anyone!"

"You don't know what these things are like! They've been terrorizing the country since the Fuhrer's been in power! They fly around doing Dante's dirty work, killing people who oppose her, destroying homes, reducing farmland to ash! They're monsters and death is what they deserve!"

Winry shook her head and said, "No! Look at her! Why would she have shown herself to us in this vulnerable state? She needs our help!"

Ed gripped the knife tightly and looked down at the Sin. He sighed and said, "Fine. Do what you want with it."

He threw the knife into the tree where it quivered slightly. Winry beckoned Al over and said, "What do you think we should do?"

Al reached into a small bag that was concealed by a small break in his armor and pulled out a small brown bottle.

"This should help. It's a special medicine the woodcutter gave me before he went into the West. It can heal almost any injury."

Winry took the bottle and uncorked it. Attached to the cork was a small brush. She dipped the brush into the bottle and pulled it out, bringing a strong earthy smell out with it. She carefully stroked the over the gashes and was amazed to see them steam slightly and close up. Once all the cuts were healed she poured the liquid over her paws and wings. There was a quiet rustling sound as her bones reset themselves and a sharp crack as the wing joints reattached to her shoulder. Slowly, her eyes opened.

Lust's eyes regained their focus and she saw Winry looking down at her in concern. Behind her a large suit of armor was also watching her. Behind him, the boy with the ponytail was glaring at her with his arms crossed. She sat up and said, "Thank you for saving me."

Winry smiled and said, "You should really thank Al over there. He's the one who had the medicine."

Lust got slowly to her feet and flexed her wings. All her injuries were completely healed. She said, "I don't expect you to trust me, but I need your help."

Ed snorted and said, "I'll bet."

Lust stared at him and said, "I'm through with Dante. I originally came here to retrieve the shoes, but I was struck down by Dante's storm. She doesn't care for me or for the other Sins. She only cares about herself. My existence is one of slavery. Dante created us with no will or conscience. To her dismay, we gained will, and some of us realized what we were doing was wrong. But by then it was too late. I can't say I regret what I did, because I don't find them wrong when I think back. But I'm through following her orders. Will you let me come with you to see the Fuhrer? I want to ask him for Life. True Life, and not this half existence of slavery and destruction."

Winry nodded and said, "Of course you can come with us."

Ed didn't say anything. He didn't like the idea of a Sin coming with them, but he would put up with it to see the Fuhrer. They all headed back to the Yellow Brick Road and continued down the path.

In her castle in the West, Dante smiled as she saw Lust leaving her employ. No matter. She was expendable after all.

"Keep strolling on, like ants to sugar. But know this: I'll make sure you never reach the Fuhrer!"

With that she clapped her hands and moved them swiftly over the crystal ball, readying a plan of devastating power.

Ending Note: I decided to add Chapter Five right after Chapter Four since the wait between Chapter Three and Four was so long. Review!